Hospital bathtub



July 22, 1952 A. A. DANIELSEN Er AL 2,603,796 HOSPITAL BATHTUB 4 Filed Sept. 27, 1946 6 Sheeis-Sheet 1 ARMAND P. SCHL ERET BY I @aW m ATTO ' INVEN AUGUST A.DAN|ELSEN' y 1952 A. A. DANIELSEN El AL 2,503,796

HOSPITAL BATHTUB 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1946 I'Il'l'l'l'lll'".

MTv SE n s S L H RNH N OAC M05 0 T WA P T WT D S N WA M U A A y 22, 1952 A. A. DANIELSEN ET AL 6 HOSPITAL BATHTUB Filed Sept. 27, 1946 e Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 55 AUGUST A. DANlEL.S%.Y

ARMAND P.5CHLERQZ July 22, 1952 A. A. DANIELSEN ET AL 2,693,796

' HOSPITAL BATHTUB Filed Sept. 27, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,INVENTORS AUGUST A.DAN-IELSEN V ARMAND P.5CHLERET A. A. DANIELSEN El AL .July 22, 1952 HOSPITAL BATHTUB 6 Sheqts-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27, 1946 INVENTORS.

v AUGUST A .DA NI'ELSEN ARMAND P SGHLERET g l f g i ATTORNEYS JulyZZ, 1952 A. A. DANIELSEN ET AL 2,603,796

HOSPITAL BATHTUB Filed sept. 27, 1946 s Sheets-Shet s "mvENToRs AUGUST A.DANIELSEN ARMAND P. SCHLERET Patented July 22, 1952 I HOSPITAL BATHTUB August A. Danielsen, Rosedale, and Armand P. Schleret, Babylon, N. Y., assignors, bymesne. assignments, to General Bronze Corporation, Garden City, N. Y., a corporationof New' York v Application September 27, 1946, SerialNo. 699,848

: Claims. (01. 4-173) 1 I This invention relates to body-supporting and lifting apparatus and more particularly to a bathtub having a vertically movable body-supporting member. The bathtub of the present invention is particularly'well"adapted to be used in bathing a, hospital patient who must be bathed in a horizontal position.

In caring for hospital patients it frequently happens that a patient either because of weal;- ness or because of'the nature of his injuries or illness cannot be bathed in a conventional bathtub because of the fact that it is necessary or desirable that the patient be bathed in a prone or supine position. On the other hand bathing the patient in bed is unsatisfactory in many respects. In order to-b'athe such a patient effectively andwithout' danger of injury to the patient a bathtub is required that difiers materially in its construction from conventional bathtubs.

Such a tub shouldprovide means for supporting the body of the patient in a substantially horizontal position and the body-supporting means shouldbe vertically movable and easily positionable to various levels. For example, in transferring the patient from his bed to the bathtub it is desirable that the body-supporting member be positioned substantially at the level of the bed so that the patient may be transferred from the bed to the'tub with a minimum of movement and discomfort. It is further desirable that the body-supporting means be vertically positionable within the tub so that the patients body may be substantially completely immersed in the bathing liquid or partly immersed in the liquid or positioned above the liquidas desired. Selective vertical positioning of the body-supporting member permits effective washing, rinsing and drying of the patient.

It is accordingly an'ob'ject ofthe present invention to provide a bathtub that can be used in bathing an invalid or hospital patient with a maximum of convenience and a minimum of discomfort to the patient. It is. another object of the invention to provide a bathtub including a vertically movable body-supporting member that is easily positionableto desired different levels.

.It is afurther object of the invention to provide a bathtub having a body-supporting member that is selectively tiltable to permit bathing of selected portions of the patients body while maintaining other portions of his body at points relatively remote from the bathing liquid. 7 It is still another object of the invention to provide a bathtub of this type that is portable, i. e., that may be used to transfer a patient from his bed to a bathroom in cases where such a transfer is desirable. It is another object of the invention to provide a bathtub of this type having controls that are conveniently located for operation by an attendant and easily operable. It is. also an object of the inventionto provide improved hydraulic apparatus for. selectively positioning a bodysupporting member. Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious'and in .part pointed out hereinafter.

The many objects and advaritages of the-present invention-will. be best understood byreference to the-accompanying drawings which illustrate a bathtub incorporating a preferred .embodiment of the present inventionand wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe tub as a Whole; 7

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating thehydraulic system used in positioning thebody-supporting trayof the tub; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the hydraulic pump;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section takenon the line 4-4 of Fig. l and showing the position of the tray within the tub; I v

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.4 and showingfrom a different direction the position of the-tray within the tub; C

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4 and showing certaindetails of the tray lifting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the hydraulic pump with the auxiliary reservoirremoved; I

Fig. 8' is an elevationpartly-in sectionof the hydraulicpump; I I I Fig.9 isa detailview on one of the check valves in the hydraulic pump; I. l

Fig. 10 is atop plan view partly in section of the control mechanism for the hydraulic system:

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line H-H of Fig. 10 showing further details of the control mechanism; Y

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line l2.! 2 of-Fig. 10 and showing other details of the control mechanism;

Fig.- 13 is a semi-diagrammatic top plan view of the hydraulic pump and control mechanism showing the manner in which the hydraulic pump, control mechanism and tray-positioning cylinders are interconnected; and

Figs. 14 through 19 are diagrams illustrating the manner in which the control valves are positioned for different positions-of the main control ever. v 1

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the bathtub there shown comprises arelatively shallow rectangular tub I supported on the tubular legs 3 which are in turn mounted on the casters 4 that permit the tub to be moved about as desired. The tub may be made of any suitable :materiala such as sheet metal and, as shown in' Fig. 4, is formed with hollow walls.

The tub-supporting legs 3 pass through the hol- 7 low walls of the tub I near the corners of the tub =10 and are fixed to the tub at the points-Sand- 6;

at the top and bottom of thetub respectively in any suitable manner such as by-brazingwelding I or soldering. Braces such as the brace I- are *proend-and footsend'of the tubrespectively. (It may%-be-'-noted"that' the terms head end and foot end" =do not-bear any necessaryrelation to the position of the patient on the tray [3 but merely provide aconvenient 4 way 'of distinguishing: the two-fends offthe; tub.) Since the hooks "l9 :merelyyrest on-the U-shaped bars l5 and IT-without being=fixedthereto, the tray |3-is readily removable'ior-washing and sterilization. The lower-ends of the bars I'd-and I1 extend into the hollow legs 3 and are connected'thereinr'with hydraulically"operated mechanism,- described in 'detail hereafter, by means of; which the bars l5 and I! may be raised and lowered to'raise andlower trayl3.

The constructionof the tray is'shown in Figs. 1,-4,and-5'of the drawings. It-may comprise a rectangularmetal frame Manda slightly dished sheet metal body-supporting surface 22 provided with the transverse stiffening ribs 23. -As shown in-Fig; lithe-frame 2 l' is spaced somewhat from the inner-walletthe tub to-permit flow of the bathing liquidbetween the tray and tub as the 'tray' is raised and lowered. If desired the tray may be provided with suitable-drainage holes and-may be covered with a material such as rubber or plastic-having a relatively low heat conductivity. Manifestly the body-supporting portion of the tray l3 may be o f any reticulated orforaminous construction that "will permit effective washing and rin'singof the patient gFor -example, it-may comprisea-network of transverse and longitudinal rubber or-plastic strips.

It is desirable that the tray [3 be vertically positionable with respect to the tub- I and hydraulically operated means are provided for pcsitioning the tray. Referring to Figsh3-and 13 -it hasbeen'pointed-out that the tub I is' so formed that its" sides and" ends are hollow and thus the walls of the tub define anenclosure or chamber 25-at the headend of the tub. Within the chamber'25" there ismounted-a hydraulic the numeral 28;"having acontrol 1ever29 that extends" through thewall' of the -tub land is provided at its outer end with aknob 30. To

"operate the hydraulic pump'2! there is a 'vertically reciprocable connecting rod or pump-ac- 4 tuating shaft 3| which (see Fig. 1) extends downwardly from the pump and is provided at its lower end with a foot pedal 33. Actuating shaft 3! is spring urged in an upward direction and the pump is operated by periodically depressing and releasing the foot pedal 33.

The-position-and movement of the tray l3 withrespect to the tub lis' controlled by manual operation of the control lever 29 which actuates the control mechanism 28, described in detail hereafter to change the connections in the hydraulic system to permit raising and lowering of' the tray l3as desired. The control lever 29 is movable-iri-both= a vertical and horizontal directiorr'andum each direction has three operative positions. "The lever is spring-biased in an zupwardi'directiomand also toward its central position so that when it is not being manipulated it normally tends to come to rest in its upper central position. When the lever is in this upper central position the tray isheld stationary; when the-lever is depressed to its. lowestzcentral -pos'ition the elements of the hydraulic systemare'so interconnectedas to cause the tray to-move downwardly} and when the control lever is depressed 'only .half wayutoiits lowest. position the elements of the-hydraulic system are so connected as' to r-permitlfupward movement of the: tray.

r The headend-and'ioot end of the tray'l3 may be positioned independentlysof' one another to 'e'fiect tilting of 2 the ..:tray .1 at a desired angle.

*Thisiindependent positioning-J of the two ends of the tray is effected? byl-moving" the lever 29 'in;a horizontal di-rection. Thus if the control lever is=moved tozthem'ight andtithen depressed to its .lowest right-handy position, the connectionswithin the' hydraulicz'sys'temi are such that the-head endiof thetrayis loweredpand the -foot end remains-stationary. .If the control "lever ispositioned iniIitS. lowest left-hand position --the i hydraulic connections are such that the footend-of the tray isloweredand the head 'endremains stationary. -When the lever is po sitioned :in' its right central: position the-:head end of i the tray :may be raised and when the lever is r positioned in its. left central position the-foot end of the tray maybe raised. It may be; noted thatithecontrollever has a total. of nine positions, 'six-of.=which produce. movement ofv the tray. When the -lever isinyits topmost position the tray -remains stationary whether the lever -is in its upper 1 left hand, upper central or upper right-hand position. It will be understood that operation of: the hydraulic pump by -the footpedal2334s required only in those cases where it is-des'ired to: raise one or both ends of the tray. -When, the." control lever :is in one ofjits traylowering positions the connec-' tions of the hydraulic: systemare such that the weightofthei tray either with or withouta paschematicallyshown in*Fig. 2 01' the drawings.

Referring to Figx2 the numerals 35 and 31 designate hydraulic positioning cylinders in the legs 3- at the head endot the tub and the numerals 39 and 4|-designate the hydraulic positioning cyl-.

position and operation of the foot pedal 33 will raise both ends of the tray I3 simultaneously. When valve 49 is rotated 90 counterclockwise and valve 5| is rotated 90 clockwise all of the positioning cylinders 35, 31, 39 and 4| are connected to-the reservoir 41 and the traywill move downwardly. When valve 49 is rotated 90 clockwise and valve 5| is rotated 90 counterclockwise the positioning cylinders are disconnected from the rest of the hydraulic system and the tray will remain stationary. It is further evident that the desired independent positioning of the head end and foot end of the tray. may be effected by suitable independent movement of the valves 49 and From the foregoing description it is apparent that the tub of the present invention provides an unusually flexible and adaptable apparatus for positioning the body-supporting tray 13 and the controls are conveniently located for operation by an attendant. The detailed structure that permits these operations to be carried out will now be described.

Positioning cylinders The tray-positioning cylinders located within the legs 3 may be similar in construction and hence only one need be described. The construction of the tray-positioning cylinders is best shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Referring to Fig. 6 the downwardly extending end 53. of the tray-supporting U-bar I1 is recessed to receivea sleeve whichis fixed to the. bar I1 and fits snugly but slidably into the tubular leg 3. Within the sleeve 55 there is a cylinder liner 51 having an upper end plate 59 that bears against the end 53 of U-bar I1 and is held in fixed position with respect to the end of the bar .by a screw 6|. The liner 51 extends downwardly through the sleeve 55 and leg ,3 and is provided at its bottom u with a cap 63. Thus the sleevev 55, liner 51 and cap 63 form the cylinder 4| that is connected to and moves with the U-bar I1. Centrally located within the liner 51 there is a tubular piston rod 65 at the top of which is mounted a piston 61 which is snugly fitted to the inner surface of liner 51.

Hydraulic fluid to operate the positioning cylinder 4| is supplied through a tube 99 which at its discharge end is provided with a vent plug 19 and near its discharge end is connected by means of a union 1| with a fitting 13 having an internal passage 15 that interconnects the supply tube 69 with the lower end of tubular piston rod 65. The lower portion of fitting'13 is provided with a pin 11 that extends through the fitting 13 and through the walls of the leg 3, thus holding pitson rod 65 and piston 61 Stationary. I

The operation of the structure just described is the reverse of normal piston and cylinder operation in that the piston is held stationary and the cylinder moves. Hydraulic fluid supplied through tube 69 flows through the internal passage 1-5 of the fitting 13, up through the central bore of the piston rod 65 to the chamber 19 de- .nected to a fitting 91.

fined by piston 61 and end plate 59 of the liner 51. Fluid pressure within the chamber 19 causes the cylinder 4| and U-bar I1 to move upwardly with respect to piston 61-which is'held stationary bypin 11. Thisinversion of the normal'piston and cylinder construction is a particularly noteworthy feature of the present construction. Since the sleeve 55 is in contact with the inside Wall of leg 3 throughout most oi the length of the sleeve 55, the tray-supporting'bar and tray are supported in an unusuallyreffectivemanner, especially in their upper position. The sleeve 55 may be made of the same material as the bar I1 and are concealed by the hemi-cylindrical cover plates 8| and 83 which are provided gt their lower ends with lugs 85 and 81 that fit into holes in the wall of leg 3 in such manner that the cover plates are supported in vertical position against the leg 3. When it is desired to disassemble the cylinder 4| the cover plates BI and 83are removed, the pin 11 withdrawn and the union 1| disconnected, whereupon the entire lifting cylinder including piston'filpiston rod 65"and'fitting 13 may be withdrawn from leg 3. n assembling theapparatus the above operations are carried out in reverse order.

Hydraulic pump As previously pointed out hydraulic fluid is supplied by a duplex pump 21, the details of which are .best shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Referring to-Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the pump 21 comprises the cylinders 43 and 45 which are similar in construction. Cylinder 45- is provided with a piston 89 which may be of conventional construction and is mounted on a piston rod 9| that extends downwardly through a conventional packing gland 93 to a fitting 95. Cylinder 43 contains a similar piston andipiston rod that is con- Fittings and 91 are pivotally connected toa yoke 99 which through the pivoted fitting II is connected tothe pump actuating shaft 3|. As previously described the actuating shaft 3| is operated by the foot pedal 33, shown in Fig. l.

Located between the cylinders 43 and 45 and mounted on the yoke 99 there is a cylindrical housing I93 within which thereis a helical coil spring I05 effectively connected at its lower end to the yoke 99 and connected at its upper end to a ring I91 mounted on the housing I99 of the pump. The spring I95 tends to move piston 89 and its companion piston in cylinder 43- to their uppermost position and hence moves shaft 3! upwardly as described in connection with Fig. 1.

Hydraulic fluid to operate the hydraulic system is stored in a primary reservoir located in the pump'housing I99 above the cylinders 43 and 45 and in an auxiliary reservoir I I3 mounted above the pump; housing I09 and connected to the reservoir III by a pipe II5. Auxiliary reservoir 3 is connected by a pipe I" to a plug H9 and the primary reservoir III is connected by a pipe |2| to a pipe cross I23, the lower connection of which is provided with aplug I25. In filling the primary and auxiliary reservoirs with hydraulic fluid the pump as a'whole is inverted, the plugs I I9 and I25 removed and hy- The dlffliulici lfluid. pouredcinw through pipe I I1 while airsis. permitted toeescape through the pipe I2I.

The" plugs I.I9 and I25aare then" replaced and the pump inverted to' its operativeposition.

Some air space is preferably left-in the reservoir I I3 to providean air cushion to vfacilitateoperation of the hydraulic system. 7 V

In order toachieve; the desired-flow of hydraulic fluid cylinder43,(see-Fig. '1) provided with a-pair of check valves I21 and I29'and cylinder 45 is provided-with; a pair of -check valves I3I-and I33.'- These checkvalves-may beofsimilar and conventional construction. Referring-to Fig. 8,: the. check valve I33 comprises anexternally. threadedbushing-I35 having a centralbore I31 that communicates with the-interior. of cylinder 45. Threadedonto the bushing I35 there is a cap I39 having a centralbore- I4I--aXially aligned with the bore I3-1-.of. bushing I35. Be-

fluid from the interior of cylinder 45to the T I53. 7

: Check valve] I21 .is. similar to. checkvalve I33 and performs a similar function with respect to cylinder. 43. Check-valves. I29 and I3I are generally similar in construction to check valves I21 and I33 but operate in areverse sense, i. e., check valve I29 operates to permit flow from cylinder 43 into a discharge pipe I55 but prevents return flowfrom pipe I 55 into cylinder 43 and check valve I3I permits flow of hydraulic fluid from cylinder- 45 into-dischargepipe I51 but prevents return flow'from discharge pipe I51 into cylinder'45.

The 'T 153 and' the cross I23 are connected respectively'to the fluid return lines I59 and I 6|. Hydraulic fluid that'flows out of the tray-positioning cylindersas the tray moves downwardly returns to the primary and auxiliary reservoirs through these pipes I59 and IE'I. The return flow of' the hydra'ulicfluid is more fully described hereafter.

The operation of the hydraulic pump is largely apparent from the foregoing description. The

spring'l95 moves-the yoke 99 to its upper positionand thereby moves the pistons to the top of cylinders 43 and"45. As the pistons move upwardly in their respective cylinders hydraulic fiuid is withdrawn from the reservoir I I I through pipes I2l and II and check valves I21 and I33 into the'cylinders 43 and 45. When the foot pedal 33 is depressed the pistons move'downwardly, check valves I 21 and I33 close, and check sistance to downward movement of the pistons.

Control mechanism Referring now to Figs. 10, ll'and 12 of the drawings, and more'parti'cularly to Fig. 10, the threle-Wayvalves 49. and- 5 I. whichimay be of conventional; construotiom: are mounted for either joint-or independent operationby themain control lever-29. The valvesl49 and 5| are. rigidly mounted in a frame I61and are. provided respectively withthe'gears I69 and IN by means of which the valves are. operated. Manipulation of thecontrol lever 29 rotates the gears. I 69 and HI bymechanism now to bedescribedto effect desired interconnection of the different elements of the hydraulic system. v a

.Control lever 29' is verticallyipivotable' about an. axisdesignated as I13 andatits. inner end is provided with a ball tip I15 that slides in a channel I11 of rectangular. cross section 'forr'ned'in .theframe I61. As indicated in Fig. lithe channel I11 is of arcuate shape toconformwitn the path of movement. of ball tip I15. The channel I11 and balltip I15 operate as a bearing or pivot when the controllever 29. is moved laterally.

.As shown in Fig. 11 theportion of the control leve 29 near its axis of rotationisformed in the shape of. a hollow square I19 which encircles a square shaft I ill on which the control lever is indirectly mounted in the following manner. The square I19 (see. Fig. 12) is connectedbyjme'a'ns of pins I83 and I85 with a pair of generally U- shaped yokes I81and I89. The pins I83 and. I85 are fixed to thelsquare I19 and pass through elliptical'holes. I9I (see Fig. 10) in the yokes I81 and I09. The h'ol'es'in the yokes are'made slightly elliptical to permit the necessary relative'movement of pins I83 andI-85and yokes I 31 and I99 as the control lever is movedv laterally.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 12, the yoke I01 is connected to a gear segment'i93 that meshes with the gear I69'of valve 49,. the gear segment being mounted for sliding movement onthe square shaft I8I. The yoke I89 is connected to a gear segment- I95 that meshes with the gear I1I of 'valve EI and is also mounted for slidin movement on the square shaft I8I. At its ends the square shaft is. provided With the round extensions I91; and I99 which are mounted respectivelyjin the' fixed.journalbearingsiz tl and 203 whichv are in turn supportedon the valve bodies of 'valves 49 and'5I. Between the bearing 20! and gear segment I 93 and surrounding the square shaft I8I there is. a. helical spring 205' which is normally in compressioniand tends to urge gear segment I93 to the left as shown in Figs. 10 and 12. A similar spring' 201 is provided between the bearing 203 and the gear. segment I95, the joint effect of the" springs 205 and 201 beingto position the control lever 29 in its horizontally central position. At the ends of'the shaft I3I tightly coiled springs 209 and 2H are provided which at their outer ends are connected to the valve bodies 49 and 5| and at their inner ends are connected to the extensions I91 and I99 respectively. The springs 209 and 2| I are so-biased as to cause the shaft -I8I to rotate clockwise (as shown in Fig. 11) and thereby urge control lever 29 toward its-uppermost position. 'The channel I11 is provided at its endswith the stops 213 and- 2I5 to limit upward and downward movement of the control lever 29.

As'indicated in Fig..11' the maximum range of movement of the'lever 29in a vertical direction isabount However most conventional threeway valvesoperateithrough.an arc of 180 and hence the radii of the gear segments? and gears are so chosen that 90 rotation of gear segments I93 and I'will' produce rotation' of gears I69'and "I. It willbe' noted that the. face of gear I69 is substantially wider than the face of ,gear segment I93 andthatthe gear segment I93 is normally positioned near .theinner or left-hand 9 edge of gear I69. In similar manner the-gear I1I is provided with a substantially wider face than the gear segment I95yand the segment I95 is normally positioned near the inner or righthand face of gear Ill.

The operation of the control mechanism is as follows: The action of the springs 299 and 2 is such that the control lever 29 is normally located at its uppermost position and the action of the springs .295 and 201 is such that the control lever 29 is normally located in its central horizontal position. Thus the control lever under the influence of these springs tends to assume its upper central position. As the lever is manually depressed gear segments I93 and I95 are rotated to actuate the valves 49 and I jointly, the gear segments being driven through the pins I83 and I85, which are effectively a part of the control lever, and the yokes I81 and I89 that are connected to the gear segments I93 and I95, respectively. The depression of the control lever through an angle of 45 actuates the valves 49 and 5| to permit raising of the tray I3 and depression of the control lever through an angle of 90 .actuates valves 49 and SI to cause the tray I3 to move downwardly.

'When it is desired to actuate the valves 49 and 5I independently the control lever 29 is shifted in a horizontal direction, i. e., laterally. If, for example, it is desired to lower the foot end of the tray I3 without moving the head end, the tray controllever 29 would be moved first to its upper right-hand position. Referring to Fig. 10, in moving to the right the control lever 29 would pivot about its ball tip I15 and shift gear segments I93 and I95 to the right. This movement to the right will disengage gear segment I95 and gear Ill and thus valve 5I will be unaffected by vertical movement of the control lever and the head end of the tray I3 will remain stationary. Gear segment I93 on the other hand will slide across the face of gear I69 and remain engaged therewith. The control lever is then depressed to its lowermost position to rotate gear I69 through an angle of 180 and actuate valve 49 to produce a downward movement 'of the foot end of the tray I3. 1

In similar manner the head end of the tray I3 may be positioned without changing the position of the foot end of the tray by shifting control lever 29 to the left as shown in Fig. thereby disengaging gear segment I93 from gear I69. Either upward or downward movement of either the head end or foot end of the tray may be produced in a wholly independent manner.

' l-The hydraulic system The manner in which the different elements of the hydraulic system are interconnected is semidiagrammatically shown in Fig. 13. Figs. 14,

and 16 are diagrams illustrating the positions of V the three-way valve 5| and Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are diagrams illustrating the positions of the three-way valve 49. In Figs. 14 through 19 the letters U, C and L are used to designate the upper, central and-lower ports of the three-way valves respectively.

Referring to Fig. 13 the discharge port of cylinder 43 of the hydraulic pump is connected by a pipe I55 to the lower port of the three-way valve 5|. The center port of the three-way valve 5I. is connected by the pipe I6I and pipe I2I (see Fig. 8) to the reservoir III. The upper port of the three-way valve 5I is connected by a pipe 2" to a T 2I9 and through branch'pipes 22I and 223 1.0 to the tray-positioning cylinders 35 and 31 resptively'at the head end of the tub.

In similar manner the discharge port of the cylinder 45 of the hydraulic pump is connected by pipe I 51 with the lower port of the three-way valve 49. The center port of three-way valve 49 is connected by pipe I59 and pipe I5I (see Fig. 8) with the reservoir I I I. The upper port of threeway valve is connected through a pipe 229 with a T (not shown) similar to the T 2 I 9 but at the foot end of the tub and supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic positioning cylinders 39 and M. at the foot end of the tub.

The manner inwhich movement of control lever 29 positions the three-way valves to regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid is best shown in Figs. 14 through 19. Fig. 14 indicates the position of the three-way valve 5I when the control lever 29 is in its uppermost position. In this position of the lever 29 pipes I55 and I6I are interconnected and pipe 2H and cylinders 35 and 31 are disconnected. Hence operation of the foot pedal 33 merely circulates hydraulic fluid and the head end of the tray is held in fixed position.

Fig. 15 indicates the position of the three-way valve 5| when the control lever 29 has been depressed through an angle of 45?. In this position of the control lever pipes I55 and 2I1 are interconnected and pipe I6I is disconnected. Hence operation of the foot pedal 33 produces a flow of hydraulic fluid through pipes I55, 2I1 and through branch pipes 22I and 223 to the positioning cylinders 35 and 31 to raise the head end of the tray I3.

Fig. 16 indicates the position of the three-way valve 5| when the control lever 29 hasbeen depressed through an angle. of 90. In this position of the control lever pipe I55 is disconnected and pipes I6I and 2I1 are interconnected. Hence hydraulic fluid from the positioning cylinders 35 and 31 may flow through branch pipes 22I and 223, pipes 2I1, IBI and I2I back to the reservoir III and the head end of the tray I3 will move down- Wardly.

In like manner Figs. .17, 18 and 19 indicate positions of the three-way valve 49 corresponding to the upper, central and lower positions of the control lever 29, which respectively hold the foot end of the tray stationary, produce upward movement of the foot end of the tray and produce downward movement of the foot end of the tray. As previously pointed out independent actuation of the three-way valves 49 and 5| is achieved by shifting control lever 29 to the right or left respectively.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the present structure provides exceptional flexibility in operation and permits the attendant to position the body of the patient being bathed in a variety of ways to suit the requirements of his particular condition. The controls'are conveniently located at the head end of the tub and easily operable. The working parts are insofar as possible concealed within the tub structure thus minimizing the introduction of dirt, grease or oil into the tub and also permitting steriliza- I may be made without departing from the spirit videdwiththe casters!) but maybe constructed as a permanent installation; if desired, with a permanent .drain' connection-and water supply. As previously pointedoutthe construction of the tray [3 and the materials of which it is'constructed may be varied as'desiredn Other modiflcations 'withinthe scope or the invention will be obviousto those skilled in the art.-

We claim: v I p Y 1. Ina bathtub adapted to be used in bathing ahospital patient in agenerally horizontal position, in combination,-- a rectangular tub for receiving and holding a washing liquid, said tub being supported at each corner thereof by a hollow leg; a--body-supporting--member adapted to receive and support a body a generally horizontal position and movableinto and out of the liquid 'inz-said-tub, a hydraulic cylinder formed in eachrof said hollow legs and effectively connected tosaidbody-supporting member and hydraulic pumping means tor-supplying hydraulic fluidunder pressure to-each of said cylindersto position said body-supporting member.

2. In a bathtubadaptedto-be usedin bathing a hospital patient in a-generally horizontal position, in combination, a -tub for receiving and holding, a .washing liquid, a body-supporting member adapted to receive and support a body in a generally horizontal position and movable into and'out of the liquid insaid-tub, a plurality of hollow legs for supporting-said tub, each of said legs being provided with hydraulic positioning means. forpositioning said body-supporting member, each of said positioning means comprising a cylinder slidable. in said hollow leg and ifectively connected to said body-supporting member, a'piston mounted within saidcylinder and held in .fixed position withrespect to said-leg and a sourceof hydraulic fluid connected-to the interior ofsaid cylinder at a point above said piston toactuate' said cylinder-to position said bodysupporting member.

3.. In a bathtub adapted to be used in bathing a hospital patient in a generally horizontal position, in combination,- a ltub for-receiving and holding a ,washing liquid; a body-supporting member adaptedto-receive and supporta-body in agenerally horizontal position and movable nto and ,outofthe liquidin said tub, a plurality of. hollow legs forsupporting saidtub, eachof said-legs being provided with hydraulicpositioning meansfor positioning said body-supporting, membeneach ,of' said positioning means comprising va cylinder slidable in said leg .and efiectively connectedat its. upper endto said bodysupportingimember, a piston mounted in said cylinder, and a hollowpistonrod connected at one end to said piston and its other end effectively connected to said hollow leg,,hydraulic pumping means connected to each of saidpiston rods to cause hydraulic fluid to flow through said hollow piston rods to and from the spaces'between said cylinders and said pistons to actuate said cylin-,

ders to position said body-supporting, member and, control means interposedv betweensaid hydraulic pumping means and said hydraulic positioning and from said positioningmeans.

4. In-a bathtub adapted'to be-used in bathing a hospital patient in a-generally horizontal-position, incombination; a tub f o rreceiving-and holding-a washing liquid, said-tub being-provided with hollow walls, a body-supporting -member adaptedto receive and support a body ina generallyhorizontal position and-movable -into and out of the liquid in said tub, a plurality of hollow legs for supporting said-tub; a hydraulic cylinder formed in each of said hollow: legs and=effe'ctively connected to said body-supporting member and a hydraulic pump mounted within said hollow wall of said tubfor -supplying hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinders to-position' said body-supporting member.

5.,In' a bathtub adapted to be used inbathing a hospital patient in a=generally horizontal-pmsition, in combinationaxtub -for receiving and holding a washing liquid, saidtub being provided with hollow walls, a body-supportingM-member adaptedto receive and support a body in agenerally horizontal. position and movable intoand out of the liquid in said'tub,a.pluralityof hollow legs for supporting 'said tub; ahydraulic cylinder formed in each of said hollow legs andeflectively connected to said body-supporting memben a hydraulic pump mountedwithin said hollow-wall of said tub for supplying hydraulic fluidto saidhydraulic cylinders to positionsaidLbody-support ing member and control meansfor-controlling the supply of hydraulic fluidtolsaid hydraulic cyline ders, said control meanslcomprising valve means located withinsaid hollow wall for regulatingnthe supply of hydraulic fluid :to said rcylindersxandra controllever connected :to. actuatmsaid. valve means and extending through' the. :wall of. said tub to the outside thereof.;.

AUGUST A. ,DANIELSENh P. SCHLERETM REFERENCES CITED UNITED. STATES. PATENTS.

Number Name Date 2 804,784 Von,Eschen- ,N ov 14;19.05 1,263,611. Scroggin Apr; 23,; 19:18. 1,394,245 Berry U.Oct;: 18.:-1921: 1,525,447 Hose .i Feb; 10, 1925, 1,590,296 Klein, et al; 1 J unel. 29; .1926 1,719,538 Edler--. l Ju1y -2,;1929: 2,015,357 Weaver Sept.i-24;:1935; 2,087,286 Hioks.; ..g July 320;?1Q37i 2,123,398 Bowers July 12, 1938 2,133,587 Starkn QOct. 18, 1938 2,283,588 Strom May .19, 1942" 2,314,044- Hunting, Mar. 1 16,1943 2,412,414 Mueller Dec.. ,.10,;1946, 2,413,390 Stevens. Dec.l .3l.-, 21946. 2,419,908 Mott 1 1; A'pr..29,;;l947-,

, FOREIGN-PATENTS? Number, Country Date :1

597,564 Germany July.-,;l4',-,- 1934;-v 807,849

France 1 3511,: 22-, ,1937; 

